My Favorite Cigar
Jon Cooper • Hockey Coach
Arturo Fuente Rothschild
Jon Cooper understands playoff hockey. “The two most important positions in sports are the goalie in hockey and the quarterback in football,” he says. His netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed just eight goals in a five-game dusting of Montreal as Cooper coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to its second consecutive Stanley Cup victory in July.
Cooper took up cigars several years ago. “Not until we began winning championships,” he explains. “I equated cigars to winning and I haven’t stopped.” After practices he and his staff head to the Nicahabana cigar lounge in Tampa. “I love the robustos the most so far. I like the size, the taste.”
He compares the two titles. “The first year we won, the pandemic was going on. We didn’t get our day with the cup or celebrate as much. This one has been off the charts.” With the second cup they celebrated in front of the fans, fitting as Tampa Bay is only the second team to repeat as champion since 2005. “If we were able to do it again, then we have solidified ourselves as one of the greatest teams of all time,” he says, conjuring a cigar-worthy occasion. He’s set to be Canada’s coach in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
